Baby Signing

[Jojo]

I've started teaching baby signing to Liam, although he's about 10 months older than you would "normally" start teaching them.

Its based on BSL, and there are many books available, of which I bought one only 2 days ago. We were both getting frustrated with him wanting something, but not able to demonstrate what he wanted, so was throwing a tantrum, I was getting frustrated as I didn't understand what he wanted etc, so after chatting with a lot of people that do this on another forum I belong to, purchased a hardback book with 40 first signs in it.

And its so easy!!! Already, yesterday after just a day of normal conversation (or at least, as normal as you can have with an 18month old lol) and incorporating the signs within the conversation, last night, he signed sorry to his brother after hitting him! I also gave him his juice which he wanted, and I signed and said thank you to him, and he also said thank you and signed it back (he has always said thank you though for a long time, but he incorporated the sign in with it yesterday).

I obviously thought perhaps it was a fluke, as we'd only been doing it for the day, but this morning, again, he was horrible to his brother, so I told him to say sorry to his brother, and signed sorry when saying the word, and he repeated it again, both signing and attempting to say it!!

But basically, I was wondering if any other mums had heard of baby signing, and if they knew the benefits that it could bring?

[Siobhan]

I never heard of it but it is a good way to communicate. It would be great if I could teach Ben but at the moment I am trying to teach him 2 languages so adding another might confuse him. I will certainly look into this as it might just relive his frustration with communication and maybe he would get angry so much

[Jojo]

This is the main reason I introduced it with Liam, Shiv - his tantrums were starting because he couldn't make himself understood etc and already, just with him being able to say sorry to Ci, is making their relationship stronger as Ci knows that he is saying sorry now, not just hitting him etc and then running off and thinking its ok to do it.

[Siobhan]

When ben hits charley and I tell him to apologise, he does say sorry and gives her a hug.. I just want him to express himself in creche, if he bites to be able to express Why he did it

[Jojo]

I wonder if thats why he is biting - something is happening just prior, which the staff don't see and then because he gets frustrated, out come the teeth. As he sounds like a wonderful well rounded little chap from everything you've said and certainly not like some of the horrors you get to see/hear about...

[Siobhan]

I think that is one of the reasons the creche hasn't asked me to take him out cause he is a good kid.. just for a split second he loses the head.. I will look into getting signing done and see if I can get the creche to introduce it to the younger kids to so they can talk without talking.. I like that idea

[Jojo]

He does sound like a great little boy though, and I don't think really any of it is to do with parenting skills (like some parents might like to say :rolleyes: ), its about frustrations I think - I have a fantastic link to a site that has everything ranging from finger puppets to dvd's and books for signing - she also has laminated items which can be used as table mats too etc

[JustJodi]

Hey girls, yes teaching a baby to sign is great, I think 6 of the Expat mums have taught their babies to sign, Eat ,MILK, DRINK,MORE, PLEASE, SORRY,THANK YOU,, well all in American sign language,
My grandson Ben has been signing since he was about 7- 8 mos old, My daughter in law is a nurse and she has encouraged each mom who has had a baby in the hospital where she works to teach the baby to sign,,they are like SPONGES,,they pick up quite easily, and its so cute to watch siblings interact,,
Good luck Shiv with Ben and Charlie :-D

[Siobhan]

He does sound like a great little boy though, and I don't think really any of it is to do with parenting skills (like some parents might like to say :rolleyes: ), its about frustrations I think - I have a fantastic link to a site that has everything ranging from finger puppets to dvd's and books for signing - she also has laminated items which can be used as table mats too etc

Oh can you send me on that site cause at the moment we are using ben's teddybears to represent kids in the creche and him to show him how he will be sent away if he bites... something like this would help us alot with him..

[Jojo]

No problem hun - I'll pop a pm to you now :thumbsup:

[Chloe O'brien]

I haven't heard of anywhere learning young children to sign unless they have a hearing impairment, but I thinks it's a brilliant idea as Jodi said children brains are like sponges they absourb more information that we give them credit for. so teaching them youg it a great idea. I did an introductory course on BSL last year and it was hard going. There is disk from BSL you can buy as I've got the programme on my PC.

[Jojo]

Its so simple Kath, I've got Ste, Ci and Liam doing it lol (even hubby thinks its a fab idea, so it must be a good'un lol)

Liam is now able to copy the signs for Sorry, Thank You, Nappy, Dirty, Please and Milk. And thats only since starting learning properly yesterday morning.

[JustJodi]

http://littlesigners.com/article1.html


http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby/signing.html


http://www.mumstuff.co.uk/acatalog/Baby_Sign_Language.html


http://www.signbond.co.uk/


http://www.signingbaby.com/second.html

HERE YA GO GIRLS,, HAVE FUN, THERES LOADS MORE IF U NEED IT..
LUV YA ALL Jodi:wub: :love:

[JustJodi]

whoops forgot this one,, its another good one for babies, kids and parents:

http://www.chelltune.co.uk/

[Siobhan]

whoops forgot this one,, its another good one for babies, kids and parents:

http://www.chelltune.co.uk/

Em sent this on to me already.. looks really good.. thanks Jodi

[Jojo]

whoops forgot this one,, its another good one for babies, kids and parents:

http://www.chelltune.co.uk/

I would highly recommend this one - fast delivery, extremely helpful and bends over backwards to help

[xxloopylauraxx]

if its just that your son is unable to communicate with you theres a baby signing called makaton apparently everychild understands what the sign is whether they know what they are or not. i learnt some of it at college doing my nvq level 2 but ive recently been looking for it as i need it for work now wbut alot of websites want you to pay for certiain things. however this website www.makton.org and it helps you with finding places and groups in your local area that engourage you to go along to find out more. it works on children that can talk and communicate as well its just to boost confidence as well.

[Jojo]

if its just that your son is unable to communicate with you theres a baby signing called makaton apparently everychild understands what the sign is whether they know what they are or not. i learnt some of it at college doing my nvq level 2 but ive recently been looking for it as i need it for work now wbut alot of websites want you to pay for certiain things. however this website www.makton.org and it helps you with finding places and groups in your local area that engourage you to go along to find out more. it works on children that can talk and communicate as well its just to boost confidence as well.

The book I've got is based on BSL and Makaton - www.chelltune.co.uk sells a lot of baby signing books etc that are also based on Makaton aswell. Plus at 18months, I think its difficult for the majority of babies to clearly communicate what they want to people initially.

[xxloopylauraxx]

oh right i though your baby was slightly older. but you starting him young is such a good idea. would be a bit easier if some of the parents at my work place helped like you. hope it all helps.x

[Jojo]

oh right i though your baby was slightly older. but you starting him young is such a good idea. would be a bit easier if some of the parents at my work place helped like you. hope it all helps.x

Nah, my youngest is 18 months, then I have a 5 yr old and then a 13 yr old.

Its something virtually unheard of down here though - I'll be promoting away here whenever I get the chance thats for sure.

[xTanya]

Wow this sounds really amazing, a great way to communicate with young children.